Community honors veterans

Polk County ceremony includes release of doves

Published: Monday, November 11, 2013 at 12:35 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 11, 2013 at 12:35 p.m.

COLUMBUS – Under the dome of a Carolina blue sky, hundreds of people lined N.C. Highway 108 and side streets surrounding Veteran’s Park in Columbus for a special service to honor their nation’s heroes Monday morning.

The drums of bands from Polk County High School and Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division pounded the beat of a 40-minute procession that heralded the arrival of the day’s most honored guests.

“Here they come, Mommy. Go like this,” said 4-year-old Hayes McCall, shooting up a hand to his forehead to salute as soldiers passed him by.

“When I grow up, I get to be a soldier!” he exclaimed. “I can’t wait to be a soldier.”

A young boy with big plans, he shared his dreams of one day firing off cannons and piloting a submarine like the heroes he so admires, joining a crowd of supporters in grateful cheers as each branch of America’s defenders filed by.

“It’s a great day to be an American,” said Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston, the recipient of three purple hearts and one Congressional Medal of Honor, as he welcomed the crowd.

A flock of doves, symbolizing peace, was released from flower-adorned cages. They soared over the heads of delighted onlookers who watched them circle the parade ground, flying free. A trumpeter played taps as heads lowered in remembrance.

“We never forget our sacred duty and oath to this great nation,” Livingston said. “Americans who understood and answered the call to duty have by their actions embodied the very nature, the very core and essence of the American fighting spirit. Our belief in self-determination, freedom and free will have secured and maintained our most wonderful nation over these many years, and we see those people here today as veterans who made sure this great nation was secured …

“Just as in 1776, where for the first time in the history of the world a group of educated and determined men took a great gamble fueled by philosophical and religious concepts, a sense of purpose and justice and a desire to create a nation of free people, declared their independence from the greatest military and economic and political power in the world. It was a collection of volunteers, a militia and later a standing military force that secured this freedom that we deserve and honor today,” he said. “Since our nation’s inception our veterans have been the vanguard of our defense and the preservers of our freedom. … We, as Americans, owe our military our eternal gratitude.”

Gen. Livingston was born in a small farming town in Georgia. He became a lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1962.

“As a young captain, he served the Company E, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines in Vietnam and distinguished himself above and beyond the call of duty in action against enemy forces and earned the nation’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor,” said Otis Livingston, president of the Patriots’ Salute to Veterans Association.

“Wounded a third time and unable to walk, he (Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston) steadfastly remained in a dangerously exposed area deploying his men to a more tenable position and supervising the evacuation of casualties. Only when assured of the safety of his men did he allow himself to be evacuated,” said Otis Livingston, reading an excerpt of James Livingston’s citation for his Medal of Honor.

“The parade was conducted to offer families of our region the chance to come together in honoring our veterans,” said Otis Livingston. The Patriots’ Salute to Veterans Association has been planning the day’s festivities since January.

Looking out on the crowd, he thanked the community for the “tremendous representation of support” that welcomed them to the stage.

<p>COLUMBUS – Under the dome of a Carolina blue sky, hundreds of people lined N.C. Highway 108 and side streets surrounding Veteran's Park in Columbus for a special service to honor their nation's heroes Monday morning.</p><p>The drums of bands from Polk County High School and Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division pounded the beat of a 40-minute procession that heralded the arrival of the day's most honored guests.</p><p>“Here they come, Mommy. Go like this,” said 4-year-old Hayes McCall, shooting up a hand to his forehead to salute as soldiers passed him by. </p><p>“When I grow up, I get to be a soldier!” he exclaimed. “I can't wait to be a soldier.”</p><p>A young boy with big plans, he shared his dreams of one day firing off cannons and piloting a submarine like the heroes he so admires, joining a crowd of supporters in grateful cheers as each branch of America's defenders filed by.</p><p>“It's a great day to be an American,” said Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston, the recipient of three purple hearts and one Congressional Medal of Honor, as he welcomed the crowd.</p><p>A flock of doves, symbolizing peace, was released from flower-adorned cages. They soared over the heads of delighted onlookers who watched them circle the parade ground, flying free. A trumpeter played taps as heads lowered in remembrance.</p><p>“We never forget our sacred duty and oath to this great nation,” Livingston said. “Americans who understood and answered the call to duty have by their actions embodied the very nature, the very core and essence of the American fighting spirit. Our belief in self-determination, freedom and free will have secured and maintained our most wonderful nation over these many years, and we see those people here today as veterans who made sure this great nation was secured …</p><p>“Just as in 1776, where for the first time in the history of the world a group of educated and determined men took a great gamble fueled by philosophical and religious concepts, a sense of purpose and justice and a desire to create a nation of free people, declared their independence from the greatest military and economic and political power in the world. It was a collection of volunteers, a militia and later a standing military force that secured this freedom that we deserve and honor today,” he said. “Since our nation's inception our veterans have been the vanguard of our defense and the preservers of our freedom. … We, as Americans, owe our military our eternal gratitude.”</p><p>Gen. Livingston was born in a small farming town in Georgia. He became a lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1962. </p><p>“As a young captain, he served the Company E, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines in Vietnam and distinguished himself above and beyond the call of duty in action against enemy forces and earned the nation's highest honor, the Medal of Honor,” said Otis Livingston, president of the Patriots' Salute to Veterans Association.</p><p>“Wounded a third time and unable to walk, he (Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston) steadfastly remained in a dangerously exposed area deploying his men to a more tenable position and supervising the evacuation of casualties. Only when assured of the safety of his men did he allow himself to be evacuated,” said Otis Livingston, reading an excerpt of James Livingston's citation for his Medal of Honor.</p><p>“The parade was conducted to offer families of our region the chance to come together in honoring our veterans,” said Otis Livingston. The Patriots' Salute to Veterans Association has been planning the day's festivities since January.</p><p>Looking out on the crowd, he thanked the community for the “tremendous representation of support” that welcomed them to the stage. </p><p><i>Reach Weaver at Emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>